Moving stairway



Oct. 28, 1941.

E. B. THURsToN :a1-Al.l

' MOVING STAIRWAY 2 'Sheets-Sheet l Filed 001;. 2, 1939 Oct. 28, .1941- E. B. THURsToN ET AL 2,260,591

MOVING STAIRWAY Filed OC. 2, 1939 2 Sheebs-Sheel'l 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 MovING sTAInWAx Ernest B. Thurston a Ohio, assignors to 14 Claims.

This

invention relates to a moving stairway andfmore particularly to the mounting of a step chain wheel for vsuch a stairway and its connection with the chain and step.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple arrangement of this kind which will reduce noise to a minimum and have other advantages which will appear as the description proceeds.

In thel accompanying drawings forming part of Figure 1 is an elevation of a step showing its step chain wheels and their connection to chains;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. ,3 isV a view showing the chain passing around the upper step chain sprocket;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one end of the .mounting connected with the chain;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View;

Fig. 7 is a side view which the mounting o f of the special link to the` Wheel and step is connected;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but showing a somewhat diierent arrangement of the wheel and its mounting upon the chain;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-,-9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. l0 and 11 are top and side' views, respectively, of the special link shown in Figs. 8 and 9;

Figs. 12 and 13 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 8, but showing other possible mountings for the step chain wheel and its connection with the chain; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are sections on the line [5l- I4 of Fig. 15 and on the line I5--l5 of Fig. 14, showing still another method of attaching the step ofthe chain.

In the construction shown in Figs. l to "I, inelusive, there is a suitable step 2i) mounted upon an axle 2'! and having idler wheels 22. The axle V2! comprises a central straight portion, offset members 23 which may be integral with or attached to the straight portion, and outer ends 23 carrying step chain wheels 24. A chain 25 is provided for moving the step, and a special link 26 ofthe chain is connected by a bolt 21 or other suitable means to the oiset portion 23. In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the special link 2.8 is shown as being constructed of two parts which have flanges on their upper ,edges turned towards each other and provided with notches at 28 which form an opening for connecting member 2;?.v The sides of the link are provided with openings 29 for the usual pivotal connecting member or pin @D of the Chinl The Spcial liek I nd Otto Hohnecker, Toledo, I

The Haughto'n Elevator' Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application .October 2, 1939,. Seria; No. '297,525'

is shown as an inside link, but may be an outside link, if preferred. f

` Thespecial featureV of .noveltyl is theoffsets 2'3 and th ir connection with the chain.' The wheels `2,11. run upon suitable,v tracks 3l, as indicated in Fig. while the idler;wheels'y run upon tracks 32,. At the upper end, the chains normally pass over chain sprocketsan upper chain sprocket Wheel 33 being lshown in Fig. 3. 1

It has been ycustomary to pass the axle ofthe step through a hollow pin in the chain and mount the stepchain'wheel on the axle outside of the chainl Where is done, the Ihollow pin through the'chain must be of considerable size and for proper propo'rtioni'ng large links are accordingly provided, usually about three or four links 'being used for one step.y By employing the offset 423, thereis rno necessity for using as large hollow pins through the chain, and consequently a'mu'ch smaller chain with shorter links may be employed. 'In they c'nstructionshownthere are indicated eight links to each step. l

Where the axle passes through hollow pins in the chain,the axlegtend's to maintain its two'ends in alignment." It is -impracticable `in regular operation to attain and maintain exact alignment of the hollow pins of the chains, and any lack of alignment tends to cause binding. 'Accordingly to 'avoid binding, it is necessary to have more playin .the hollow pins around the axles than would belnecessary if they were in exact alignment. One consequence Vof this play is noise resulting from changing positions of the axle in the hollow pins of the chain. This is especially true at the transfer points between the chain sprockets and the tracks-and elimination or decrease of this Ynoise is Very desirable.A i

-Where, as previously mentioned, the large links necessitated by large hollow pins are employed, there is considerable variation in the height at which the sprocket wheel supports the chain when the support for the pin of the chain is directly uppermost and when the vertical line from the axis of the sprocket Wheel is midway between two pins. This ,allowsy of movement of the chain and is the cause of considerable noise,

vand also imparts an irregular motion to the much lessened. It will be readily seen that the relative position of axle 2| and ,Wheels124 with respect to lthe chain is the same as it would be if throught www an a the' aan and, therefore, no change in the apparatus is necessary except the change in the offset portion of the axle and its connection to the chain.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the wheel 24| is mounted upon axle 2| I inside of the offset portion 23| instead of outside thereof. By this method of mounting the wheel is directly upon the end of the straight portion of the axle and also is held in line with the pin in the chain. In this construction a solid link 26| is indicated, as shown more in detail. in Figs. and 11. be readily understood that either the link shown in Figs. 6 and 7 or the one shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be used interchangeably, 'depending upon which is more convenient to manufacture and assemble, or other equivalent forms of special links may be employed.

` In Fig. 12 there is shown a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 4, except that the offset portion 232 is extended in a straight line beyond its attachment to the chain instead of being dropped down to alignment with the straight portion of the axle, but thewheel 242 is mounted outside of'the chain instead of inside. With this construction, the straight portion of the axle is still directly inline with the connected pin of the chain so that no difference Vresults in the operation of the step, but* the track upon which roller 242 operates, must be suitably shaped.

Inv the construction shown in Fig. 13, there is `no offset portion of the axle, the end 233 being merely flattened and attached to the chain. vThe wheel 2,43 is shown inside of the chain in this gure, but obviously might be on the outside of the chain with exactly the same results. In this case, the axle is vout of alignment with the ,connecting pin of the chain, and this results in a different operation of the steps when they are swung in relation to the chain. However, some departure from exact alignment with the pin of the chain is permissible without. serious operative difficulty. 'A Y Y In the form shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the axle 2|.4 is supported by wheel 244 and is attached to speciallink 262 of the chain by pivot 212. In this case, the attachment is to lugs on the side of the special link', as will be seen from these figures. In each of the forms shown, itv will be noted that the supporting member is attached to the lchain by means of a bolt which is substantially vertical duringthe working run of thechain, or more accurately, is perpendicular to the plane of the two lchains. This is the preferable m-anner of attachmentl as it allows an attachment without Vany play, but still withvprovision forslight angular adjustment, especially4 during assembly, where the pivotpoints of the two chains are not in absolute alignment., This same result might be 0b- Vtained byY twobolts with provision for slight movement at one of the bolts, at least prior tol final clamping in position. The arrangement by which the connection allows movement in the plane of the pivots of the chain, but is rigid in the longitudinal vertical plane of each chain, is 'quite advantageous. As indicated above, it allows proper connection to the chains, in spite of slight It Will discrepancies in alignment, without any play in` the connection which will result in noise during the operation of the chain. At the same time, it

provides means for holding the chain against tiltingaction while the step is `moving'over the upper 1 curve near the top end of` the stairway. At this point, the tension of the chain tends to lower the f ,chain by straightening it so that this tension is` supported upon the step wheel and, where the attachment to the chain is at one side thereof as in Figs. 14 and 15, this results in a tendency to tilt the chain, that being supported upon one side and not upon the other side. However, the bolt 212, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, will withstand this tendency. Where the connection is directly over the middle of the chain, as in Figs. 4 to 13, this tendency to tilt the chain is avoided.

In the foregoing description, the entire member 2| is spoken of as the axle. It may be explained in this connection that it is preferable to have the step pivoted at some point in its connection to the chain and step chain wheel.` This may be achieved merely by pivoting the step frame upon the straight central portion 2| or by attaching the frame to a member pivoted upon member 2|, and this pivotal connection may obviously be either by means of a box surrounding member 2| or by a pin entering a hollow end of lmember 2|. It will be obvious that the same result may be obtained by a stub shaft at each end of the frame, or by a member which is oifset in the middleportion, as is accomplished by the straight connecting member shown in Fig. 1. It would be possible to have the only pivotal connection at the axis of wheel 24, where this wheel is substantially in alignment with the chainA pin, and accomplish the same result so far as the operation of the step is concerned, but in such case, if the step frame is rigidly connected to the chain link, the tilting of the frame bythe idler wheels 22 results in tilting the chain link withthe rigid connection shown and thereby affecting the tension of the link. Consequently, a pivotal connection between the step frame and the member rigidly attachedto the chain link is preferable.

While the operation of successive steps is most readily controlled in relation toeach other, especially where the steps are moving around a curved path, by locating the pivotal connection, between the frame and the member connected to the chain, substantiallyv in line with a pivot of the chain, a variation from such alignment is much more important in a vertical direction than in a horizontal direction when viewing the parts as in all of the figures except 6 and 10. This is for the obvious reason that a variation from alignment in a vertical direction, as viewed in such vfigures, obviously changes the arc of the curve through which the respective axes pass to the full extent of such variation of the alignment, whereas, a variation in the horizontal direction makes relatively small variation in the Acurvature of the path through which Athe respective axes move. This is especially true where the links are short.

While several alternative arrangements have been shown, it will be readily understood that other changes may be made in the details of the construction within the scope of the appended claims, and `that no attempt has been and silent chain. At the same time, it is preferable to have the step frame pivoted so that it can turn about an axis substantially in vertical alignment with the pivot of the chain when the chain is running horizontally and horizontal alignment is'also preferable, but not as important. It is also preferable to make the attachment for the chain adjustable, at least during or prior to assemblage, for oscillation in the plane of the two chains to which a step is attached. Also, it is preferable to have the attachment approximately in the median longitudinal plane of the chain, but, especially if this is not done, the attachment should hold the chain against tilting with respect to the step. Normally this can be accomplished most easily by bolting or otherwise fastening the attaching member to a plane surface parallel with the two pivots of the link to which the attachment is made, as it will be seen is done in each of the assemblies shown.

Having thus described one embodiment in detail and several variations, and the principles upon which other variations may be made, what we claim is:

1. In a moving stairway, a step, parallel chains to which the step is attached, each chain consisting of links pivotally connected together by parallel pivotal connections, one at each end of each link, and the corresponding pivots of the two chains being in approximate alignment with each other, and a pivotal mounting of the step with respect to the chains having its axis substantially in the plane of the pivots of the links to which the step is attached, the attachments of the step to the chains being made directly to links and independently of the pivotal connections of the chain.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and each attachment of the step to the chains lbeing made upon the surface of a chain link which is substantially parallel with the plane of the two pivotal connections at the oppositeV ends of the link.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and each attachment of the step to the chains being made upon the surface of a chain link which is substantially parallel with the plane of the two pivotal connections at the opposite ends of the link, and the attaching means comprising a bolt perpendicular to said surface and about which the step may oscillate at least during assemblage of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and in which the axis of said pivotal mounting of the step is substantially in alignment with a pivotal connection of the chain.

5. In a moving stairway, a step, a step chain wheel, a drive chain with pins horizontal, the drive chain comprising a special link, and a connector attached to the side of said link that is uppermost in the working run of the chain,

said connector supporting the step and being supported by the wheel.

6. In a moving stairway, atread, an axle supporting the tread, an offset near the end of the axle, a drive chain having one side thereof attached vto the offset and a supporting wheel on the axle having its axis substantially in the plane of the pivotal -connections of the chain.

7. In a moving stairway, a tread, an axle supporting the'tread, an oifset near the end of the axle, a drive chain having one side thereof attached to the oifset and a supporting wheel on the axle having its axis substantially in alignment with a connecting pin of the chain.

8. In a moving stairway, a tread, an axle supporting the tread, an oset near each end of the axle, a drive chain near each end of the axle and connected to the respective offset, and a wheel near each end of the axle having its axis substantially in alignment with the pin of the associated chain.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and having the wheels locatedoutside of the chains.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and. having the wheels located between the chain.

11. In a moving stairway, a drive chain comprising a special link pivoted to other links at each of its ends, an axle member fastened to the special link by a bolt perpendicular to the plane of said pivots, and a tread supported by the axle member.

12. In a moving stairway, a drive chain comprising a special link, said special link comprising two members having the opposite ends of connecting pins of the chain journalled therein, there being flanges on the members extending towards each other and notched for the reception of a fastener, a fastening member located in such notch and connecting an axle member hereto, and a tread supported'by the axle mem- 13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, and comprising an offset on the axle to which said lfastening member is attached, the offset bringing the axleto substantial alignment with one of said connecting pins.

14. In a moving stairway, a drive chain comprising a special link, said special link comprising two side portions, having opposite ends of connecting pins of the chain journalled therein, and a portion connecting said two side portions and having a flat surface substantially parallel with the plane of said pins, an axlemember fastened against said plane surface` and a tread supported by the axle member.

l ERNEST B. THURSTON.

OTTO HOHNECKER. 

